Upholstering device.



PATENTED NOV} 10, 1903.

No, 743,505 f 1; L. HE-FPNER. UPHOLSTE'RING DEVIGEL' APPLIUATION FILED MAY 31, 1902'.

no MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 10, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. HEFFNEn, OFPEORIA, ILI INoIs.

UPHOLST ERlNG DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,505, dated November 10, 1903.

Application filed May 31. 1902.

T0 or whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN L. HEFFNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Upholstering Devices; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to a new and useful implement for use in upholsteringlounges, chairs, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a distinctly new device for upholstering purposes that is thoroughly practical in its application. In constructing lounges what is known to the trade as a roll is required to be placed along the edges to assist in keeping the article in its proper shape. This roll, however, is too well known to need further description here; but up to this time it has been customary for the manufacturer to twist excelsior into a roll, place it in the desired position on the lounge, and secure it by sewing burlap or other material around it to secure it. This method is quite crude and has led to bringing out the device forming the subject of this invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the device in its various forms and in the use thereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is also a view of the same, showing a slightly-modified form. Fig. 3 is an end view thereof, showing a slot in the end of the tube. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing several slots in the tube. of the opposite end of the device, showing the interior of an enlarged head or hopper. Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing a lounge and my improved device used therewith in manufacturing a roll. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a portion of the tube of the invention, showing V-shaped slots therein. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of de vice.

In the various figures, A indicates a tube of any desired or convenient length having at one end a funnel or hopper B, flattened at one side to form a table 0, which is in line Fig. 5 is a view,

Serial No. 109,813. (No model.)

iwiththe bottom of the tube-opening, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The said hopper is tatpered smoothly toward the tube, so that any- Tthing pushed into said hopper will be guided into the tube without hindrance in any way.

The tube is shown with one slit D in Figs. 1 ;and 3, While in Figs. 2 and4 four of these @are indicated. The purpose of this imple- ,ment is clearlyillustratedin Fig. 6, in which the end of the tube A is inserted into the unlder covering of a lounge which is intended lto be filled with hair, excelsior, or other malterial of like nature. When working ata talble, the device is laid thereon on its fiat side in the positions shown in the figures and the .jhair or other filler is pushed thereinto, and iby means of a suitable plunger the said filler jis forced into the tube and thence into the iportion of the cover being filled, all of which ;will be clearly understood. It will also be :understood that it is possible to use a tube iwith no slits in it; but the expansion of the jmaterial being filled in by pressure of the plungercreates so much friction on the inside of the tube that its use is attended with 3 too much annoyanceand hard work, and besides this the filler is compressed to such an extent that its purpose is lost by the time it. is pushed to its place; but by my'device, which is provided with the slits, the filler can not be so much compressed as to be useless, since the tongues left between the slits will expand slightly and let the material pass with ease. By using such a device the product is smoothly and evenly filled, since it can be handled with perfect ease. InFig. 7 I show a slight-lymodified form of my device in which the slits D are made V shape, whereby the end of the tube may be reduced in size by pressure of. the hand, so that it can be readily entered in the roll, Fig. 6, after which it expands and holds firmly within said roll;

Evidently any number of the slits D may be employed; but I deem one of these sufficient to allow just enough expansion to accomplish the desired end.

Other parts of the upholstering may of course be treated and filled in the same manner as described in the foregoing. I do not wish to confine myself to any particular construction in the device herein described, as

various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention. The hopper of course could be eliminated from 'the device and the pipe slightly flared or turned over into a bead, so as to present a smooth edge, and in this con dition the same work could be done with it as when using the hopper described.

My idea is to provide a split tube for upholstering purposes which will allow the filling material to be pushed therethrongh without being congested, as has been described.

In place of the split tube a tapering one could be used, though it would not accomplish the same result as the split one, for the reason that when entering the filling material to the smaller end and pushing it out through the large end sufficient compression could not be had, Whereas in the use of the split tube the tongues thereof exert a yielding pressure upon the material at all times and the filling is of a uniform thickness and state of compression throughout its entire length.

In Fig. 8 I show a slightly-modified form of the device in which a portion of the top of the funnel B is removed and the remaining sides are bent up, as shown, and in this way the material may be more easily entered and handled. It will also be seen in the several figures that I provide lugs 0', attached to or formed with the bottom 0. These are used to prevent the apparatus from moving when used upon atable or bench. When used in that manner, the said lugs are placed against the edge of the said table with the bottom 0 resting upon the latter. It will be seen that with lugs suificiently strong the tube may be packed tightly with the filling material and crowded with the plunger without moving.

formed may be readily sewed to the lounge where required. In this way a stock of rolls may bemade up and kept on hand for use.

I claim 1. As a new article of manufacture for the uses and purposes set forth, a tube split for a portion of its length, the unsplit end thereof being flared outward to form a funnel substantially as described and shown.

2. In an upholstering device of the character described, a tube having longitudinal slits therein and a hopper surmounting the same substantially as described and shown.

3. In an upholstering apparatus of the character described, the tube A having the slit D therein and the hopper B surmounting the same, one side of said hopper having a flattened portion 0 as described and shown.

4. In an upholstering apparatus of the character described, the combination of the tube A having one or more slits therein, the same extending longitudinally ofsaid tube for the greater part of its length, the hopper B mounted at the end of the tube opposite to the end having the slits, said hopper having a flat side at O as shown and tapered toward and into the tube for the purposes described.

5. An upholstering device comprising a split tube, a hopper at one end thereof, said hopper having a flattened portion, and a series of lugs on said flattened portion for the purposes described.

6. An npholstering device comprising a split tube, a hopper at one end thereof, said hopper having a flattened portion, a series of lugs on said flattened portion said hopper also being open on its side opposite the flattened portion substantially as described and shown.

In testimony-whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. HEFFNER.

Witnesses:

E. J. ABERSOL, L. M. THURLOW. 

